Taliban Destroy AFN 2.5B in Worn Banknotes in Largest Cash Cleanup

DID Press: Afghanistan’s central bank under Taliban administration says it has destroyed more than AFN 2.54 billion in worn and unfit banknotes over the past 13 months, describing the move as the country’s largest cash replacement operation aimed at improving currency management.

According to the Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB), banknotes worth AFN 2,541,645,000 were withdrawn from circulation and destroyed during the past 13 months. The bank said the total value of currency currently in circulation stands at approximately AFN 409 billion.

The central bank said the initiative is intended to improve cash management, remove deteriorated banknotes from circulation and help maintain confidence in the Afghan afghani. The Taliban administration launched a nationwide campaign to collect worn-out banknotes in December 2023.

The bank noted that it had previously destroyed more than AFN 1.14 billion in damaged banknotes collected from Afghanistan’s northern and northeastern provinces.

Officials said the destroyed currency included AFN 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 denominations, adding that severely worn banknotes will continue to be removed from circulation as part of routine monetary management.